August 12, 2013

AFFORDABLE FASHION: BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING WITH SEARS!

I
am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has
been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias
and their client. #ThisisStyle for #backtoschool #cbias

Gulp. My son is going to be a kindergartener. A full-fledged
kindergartener! This year, shopping for back to school apparel and items is
more poignant and important than ever. Though my son spent last year in
Transitional Kindergarten (thank goodness for “red shirting”), this year really
counts as “The Year.” It’s go time, for reals, and there’s no turning back.
(Sigh). But, lucky for me, I’ve teamed up with Collective Bias and SearsStyle
to find the most affordable fashion for
my son and even another child in need.

Like most 5-year old boys, my son is growing like a weed. It
sees like every few weeks, he needs a new pair of shoes, a new pair of pants,
new underpants and always, always,
ALWAYS, new socks. (Honestly, when we moved to our new home, they should have
told me that there was an evil sock monster that stole socks and made them
smaller). Because he’s an active boy (let’s hope he masters the art of “sitting
still” in Kindergarten!) I generally look for clothing that is comfortable and
durable, but still has an edge and is stylish. Plus, we’re working really hard
on encouraging independence…. From bathroom time to getting dressed, it’s
important he can do a lot of things on his own. So clothing that he can easily
get off and on, but that he feels proud of is equally important. Finally, to
me, there is nothing cuter and more functional than a kid in jeans. Durable and
easy to clean, I love putting J in jeans but because he grows so fast, it seems
like I’m always in need of a pair for him. (My closet… that’s a different
story. Can you say #obsessed?)

From the moment I got to Sears though, it was truly a “Jean
Scene.” I loved their signage for this campaign and it was evident in the
children’s apparel department that they had the denim selection to back up this
campaign. There was so much to choose from!
I ended up getting my son two different pairs of Levis because the
straight, relaxed fit is hard to find in those washes (My son’s not quite the
“skinny jeans” kind of kid.) In an effort to teach him to read and do things on
his own, I have labeled his drawers and on school days, I tell him what he
needs (“It’s cold! You’ll need long sleeves and pants). He helped me put his
clothes away and was quick to remind me how many things he’s outgrown and “are
like, kind of baby.”

Trough out the children’s department, there were several “Tee Stop” displays. Almost
every super hero imaginable was represented in the beautifully organized piles
and mounds of screened tees. For $7.98, they’re really high quality and with
graphics I know my son would love (and again, feel totally cool about . These
things are talking points with his little buddies after all!) I picked out a
cute Batman tee for him and an Iron Man tee to donate. The piece de
resistance(s) were the tees for $9.98 that came with a toy. At 5, he’s not
going to see “Man of Steel,” but he
can certainly wear a Man of Steel tee! Great deal and he was super excited.

In addition to the jeans and tees, I found a few great items
like khaki cargo pants with an elastic waist - perfect for hot, back to school
months, (annnnnd for the child that
never wants to go to the bathroom at school because he’s in a rush to go play
with his friends), a striped tee (for “fancy” days”) and an adorable
short-sleeve, plaid button down, that came with a coordinating tee shirt. It’s
a 2 for the price of one look and it screams first day of school!

I loved seeing his enthusiasm over the super hero/character
backpacks that comes with a lunch box. He instantly threw it over his shoulders
to see what he’d look like rocking it on our walk to school. It’s big enough
for carrying his favorite basketball and bright enough to locate in the cubby
round up!

The best part, however, was talking about how there are so
many children that don’t get brand new clothes or backpacks to go to school. In
fact, his school partners with a school where many families live below the
poverty line. Several times through the year, our school donates whatever is
left in the lost and found as well a few book drives to help raise money for
their school. But Jonah and I wanted to do something different- something
special. We contacted the school and asked if we could give a new backpack and
tee (a Spiderman Backpack and Iron Man tee to be specific!) to another little
boy, just like Jonah, starting Kindergarten. “He’ll feel special because it’s
new and he should feel good on his first day of school like me.”

Here’s to making back to school a success!

To get your affordable and style back to school gear, follow
searsStyle on Twitter and
Facebook, and be sure to check out all the photos
from my shopping experience on my Google Plus album!